Blaine had tried phoning Kurt numerous times, he had left so many messages he had lost count, he had banged on his door until his knuckles ached and he had walked the corridors so many times he could do it blindfold and in the dark. Still he hadn't found him and it was now late and he was worried.
Quick check-ins with Jeff and David had confirmed that both couples had been unsuccessful in their attempts to track him down and they had now retreated back to the common room where they sat together in relative silence, a movie playing on the TV but none of them paying it any attention.
"So" began David, "why do you think he took off?"
"David shut up" hissed Wes as Nick and Jeff eyed him in disbelief.
Blaine took no notice. He was too worried to pay any attention to David's questions.
"I just think its odd is all" David tried again whispering to his friends, "why doesn't he just talk to Blaine about stuff, it's a little dramatic don't you think?"
"So help me David if you don't shut up I will burn your comic collection" threatened Wes quietly whilst looking to Blaine who was still lost in his own thoughts.
"Just saying" grumbled David.
"I'm going to my room" Blaine announced suddenly standing and heading to the door.
"Blaine" called Wes, "you okay?"
"Sure Wes, I'm okay" he replied with a small smile which he hoped covered his true feelings of anxiety, "I'll see you guys tomorrow and thanks for helping me look for him" he added.
"No problem man" Nick replied, "let us know when he calls you, anytime okay, we need to know he's okay too."
"Sure" Blaine replied dully.
Kurt sat huddled on a window seat in the darkened library, a thick curtain pulled across the bay concealing him from the view of anyone who might come into the room. He knew he was being silly, he knew he was being self indulgent by wallowing in his misery but damn it he felt like he needed to be selfish. He also knew that he wasn't being the least bit fair to Blaine who was probably out of his mind with worry by now. Christian had caught him off guard, he hadn't considered the thought that Blaine could actually believe that he and Jeff were fooling around. Sure he knew Blaine was pissed that he had gone to Jeff before telling him about the assault and for all of Blaine's reassurances and understanding about the situation he was still clearly irritated that he had confided in Jeff before him. The thought that he had caused Blaine to doubt their relationship even for a second cut Kurt deeply and he had retreated into himself to consider his behaviour. He knew hiding was childish and he knew that it was only going to make things worse again when he saw Blaine but cocooned on his window seat in the darkness Kurt felt secure enough to allow himself relax, something he hadn't fully done in the last few days. Taking out his phone he glanced at the list of missed calls and scrolled through his messages, the glow from the screen illuminating his face harshly in the darkness. Almost each message was from Blaine with sporadic ones from Jeff, all asking the same thing "where are you?" with varying degrees of desperation, pleading and contained frustration.
His finger hovering over Blaine's contact Kurt rested his head against the window and stared out into the darkness.
"Kurt" came an anxious voice from the phone breaking the silence of the room, "Kurt where are you, please tell me" Blaine begged.
"Um" Kurt stared dumbly at his phone, he hadn't intended to make the call just yet but must have pressed the call button as he'd been staring out of the window.
"Um" he said again.
"Kurt you need to tell me where you are, you can't keep doing this to me" Blaine said slightly irritated, "do you even know how worried we've all been about you?"
"Library" is all Kurt managed to say as he still stared dumbly at his phone.
"Stay there" Blaine said and Kurt could hear the sound of footsteps running along the corridors as Blaine hurried toward him.
"Blaine" he tried.
"Kurt, just don't hang up" Blaine begged "please baby stay on the line until I get to you, please. I don't want to lose you again tonight" he said breathlessly as he ran.
"Okay" Kurt whispered in response listening to Blaine's heavy breaths as he sat in the darkness.
A loud thud echoed around the darkened library as Blaine burst through the heavy wooden doors at the far end of the room.
"Kurt?" he spoke into the darkness.
"I'm here" he heard Kurt reply from across the room although he couldn't see him.
Squinting into the darkness Blaine carefully made his way past the rows of desks and books toward the area that the voice had come from.
"Kurt?" he spoke again.
"Right here" a voice whispered in his ear as two arms wove strongly around his waist.
"Jesus Kurt" breathed Blaine dropping his head back onto Kurt's shoulder, "why did you run and why didn't you answer my calls?"
"We've hurt each other Blaine" Kurt said to the darkness, his voice whispering across Blaine's neck "I hurt you by not telling you about Dave and you've hurt me by believing what Christian told you, even if only for a moment. How could you believe him, don't you trust me?" he asked disappointedly.
"Kurt, I'm so sorry" moaned Blaine, "I just, I can't explain it Kurt. When Christian told me you were with Jeff every fibre of my being told me it wasn't true, we love each other and Jeff is one of my best friends but for an instant I just felt empty and thought what if?"
"Blaine I would never do that to you" whispered Kurt against Blaine's neck, "you have to trust me, you have to have faith in me."
"You need to do the same" Blaine shot back into the darkness "you haven't shown much faith in me this weekend Kurt and that hurts like hell."
"I know and I'm sorry" Kurt said shamefully; dropping his forehead onto Blaine's shoulder as they stood in the darkness, "I haven't been fair to you and I promise to try harder."
"You need to trust the guys too you know" said Blaine, "They worry about you just as much as I do. Jeff's practically had kittens since you ran away from him this evening."
"I didn't think" mumbled Kurt into Blaine's shoulder, his arms tightening around his waist, "I can't stand the thought that he's going to tell everyone what he thinks happened, people are going to talk and whisper and point, I don't think I can handle that Blaine I really don't."
"Hey now, we'll deal with whatever happens okay" said Blaine, tenderly rubbing Kurt's hand with his own where they sat on his waist, "no-one will believe him, I promise."
"Not another promise Blaine" Kurt sighed, "you really need to stop promising things you can't possibly deliver on."
"I promise" repeated Blaine "and I should probably let them know you're okay" he added quietly.
"You know hiding out in the darkness isn't nearly as much fun without you" Kurt added quietly whispering past Blaine's ear causing him to shiver at the sensation.
"You know David thinks you're an attention seeking diva" Blaine smiled into the darkness, closing his eyes and resting his head back against Kurt's shoulder all thoughts of texting his friends gone.
"Oh does he now?" Kurt giggled as his tongue trailed the shell of Blaine's ear.
"Yes actually he does" groaned Blaine.
"Well that boy doesn't know the meaning of the word diva" muttered Kurt, "but he will, oh boy he will."
Blaine groaned as he felt Kurt turn him in his arms and pull him into a fierce kiss. Standing in the gloom, enveloped by the darkness Blaine's senses were whirling, his brain attempting to decide where this assertive side to his boyfriend had come from, the rest of his brain trying to get him to stop worrying about it and just enjoy it. He had expected Kurt to be mad, upset maybe even weepy but he appeared to be dealing with his emotions in a whole different way and who was Blaine to complain?
Winding his hands into Kurt's hair, Blaine kissed him back intensely pulling him close.
After several minutes Blaine pulled back from the embrace and breathed "You know we really should let the guys know your okay."
"You're probably right" agreed Kurt whilst still kissing his boyfriends neck.
"Kurt" whined Blaine, "baby, we need to stop your killing me here."
"What a way to go" Kurt smiled into this neck but pulled away and placed a soft kiss to his cheek, "okay captain sensible, let's go."
Hand in hand they made their way back across the darkened room and out into the corridor, Blaine noticing in the change of light that Kurt looked tired and dried tear streaks stained his cheeks yet again. Leading them back to the common room Blaine smiled at Kurt and squeezed his hand firmly, Kurt responding with a smile and a corresponding grasp.
All four boys turned from their respective spots on the couches when Blaine and Kurt entered the room.
"Kurt" yelled Jeff jumping over the back of the couch and running to his friend to embrace him in a massive hug, "where the hell did you go?"
"Library" mumbled Kurt as Jeff pressed himself against him in a bone crushing clinch, "just needed to think" he added quietly so only Jeff could hear.
Jeff pulled back and looked into Kurt's pale blue eyes, "you okay?" he asked quietly, "do you want to talk about it?"
"Maybe tomorrow" Kurt replied softly.
"Okay" smiled Jeff stepping back and releasing him. Kurt turned to the other boys in the room, all of which were now standing and watching him carefully.
"Look guys, I'm really sorry" Kurt directed at the group, "I really appreciate you looking out for me and I'm sorry if I worried you. Again" he added with a small smile.
"Damn Kurt you can't just disappear like that, I know you've had a tough couple of days but come on man, we've been looking for you for hours" snapped David waving his hands around to emphasis his point.
"David" warned Wes placing a hand on his shoulder, "leave it."
"No, he's right" Kurt stated, "I need to get my shit together and deal with stuff and I'm really sorry I screwed up the evening."
"Don't worry about it man" smiled Nick as he walked forward and placed a reassuring hand on Kurt's shoulder, "as long as your okay that's all that matters right?"
Kurt responded with a grateful smile as he met his friend's eyes.
"Anyway, it's late and it's an early start tomorrow so if you guys will excuse me I should get going" said Nick turning to the boys still standing behind him, "Babe, you coming?" he asked turning to Jeff and holding out his hand.
"Absolutely" Jeff grinned as he grabbed Nick's hand and headed out of the room, "night guys" he called over his shoulder.
"I should get going too" said Wes walking towards the door, "I'm glad you're okay Kurt" he smiled.
"Hold on Wes, I'll walk with you" said David as he joined his friend in the doorway, "goodnight Blaine, hope you feel better tomorrow Kurt" he said before disappearing into the corridor and falling out of sight.
"See not awkward at all" smiled Blaine.
Lifting his gaze to his boyfriends face, Blaine studied his expression, it was thoughtful and a little distracted.
"You okay?" he asked concernedly.
"Yeah, you know what, I'm starving" Kurt said with a frown.
"Starving" Blaine repeated with a waggle of his eyebrows as he inched closer to his boyfriend.
"Hold it tiger" laughed Kurt, "when I said starving I meant for food" he said placing his hand on Blaine's chest to halt his advance.
"Figures" mumbled Blaine as Kurt giggled at his disappointed face.
"How about you make me some toast?" he suggested, "I know you can do that" he smiled.
"Making fun of my cooking skills will not get you fed Hummel" Blaine replied in a wounded tone.
Laughing Kurt took Blaine's hand and together they headed out of the common room and toward the kitchen.